#1 On the Field and in the Depth Chart

Coach Richt has announced that Isaiah Crowell will be the #1 tailback against Coastal Carolina. Why he wasn't first string already is beyond me, but hopefully this means more carries in the coming weeks. Actually, I hope it means less carries this week since the Dawgs should be able to beat Coastal Carolina with a backfield consisting of only guys shorter than 5'8'' (Thomas and Harton).

The reason for the change was on field performance in addition to some injuries for Samuel. And supposedly Carlton Thomas will move to #2 if Samuel can't go. My question is, what the hell happened to Boo Malcome? Wasn't so impressive in practice last season that the coaches considered burning his red shirt when Ealey and King struggled. Now, he can't even take over the third string spot for little Carlton Thomas. Something just doesn't seem right.

Hopefully this is a permanent change. Getting 25 touches for Crowell a game could spell huge dividends for a Georgia team that appears to pass the ball much better out of play action than out of the shotgun.

Why Washaun Ealey's Reinstatement is a Big Deal

When Washaun Ealey was suspended from the team three weeks ago, many of the Georgia faithful felt he should have been kicked off the team. While I expect Isaiah Crowell to be the feature back this fall, I think it is very important for the team that Ealey come back. Here are the reasons why.

1. Caleb King's status is still up in the air. He was suspended for the bowl game we have not heard much since then. Caleb is Georgia's best blocking back, so I truly hope he returns. But if he doesn't, Ealey will need to step up in the blocking department. Pass blocking is one of the hardest things incoming players have to learn and Crowell will only be on campus for a few weeks prior to the first game. Ealey was not exactly a good blocker (at all) last year, but another year in the system should make him better.

2. Depth is always an issue. In todays football landscape, rarely do you see one running back carry all of the load for a successful running program. Carlton Thomas is definitely not the answer and we are unsure what we have in Ken Malcome. But Ealey has been a bright spot at times over the last few years. Even if Crowell is RB1, we need a good complementary back.

3. Washaun Ealey is a talented player. Remember 5 touchdowns against Kentucky? Remember almost 200 yards against Tech? He may have issues with fumbles, but he still can make things happen on the field.


4. Competition for Crowell. Everyone expects Crowell to be the starter, but ask yourself if that makes sense. Georgia returns its leading rusher who will be a junior and scored 11 TDs last year. Without Ealey, earning the starting job could almost be "easy". Washaun Ealey on campus means strong competition, which usually brings out the best in athletes.

I am glad to have Washaun back on the team. Hoefully, his attitude is fixed and he is ready for a big season in 2011.

2011 Recruiting Wrap Up: Assessing the Depth Chart - Running Backs

Depth Chart - Tailbacks
1. Isaiah Crowell, Freshman
2. Washaun Ealey, Junior
3. Caleb King, Redshirt Senior
4. Ken Malcome, Redshirt Freshman
5. Carlton Thomas, Redshirt Junior

Analysis
Based on Coach Richt's comments and the performance of Ealey and King in 2010, right now I have to believe Isaiah Crowell will be the starting running back come September. The coaching staff has made it clear that they will not have another case of "Knowshirting" and Crowell will definitely get his touches with the first team in summer practice. Even if Crowell earns the #1 spot, I expect Ealey, King, and Malcome to be part of the offensive gameplan. G-Day may help determine the pecking order for these guys. I am sure that the days of Carlton Thomas running the ball up the middle should be over.

Depth Chart - Fullbacks
1. Bruce Figgins, Redshirt Senior
2. Alexander Ogletree, Sophomore
3. Josh Sailors, Senior and Kevin Lanier, Redshirt Sophomore

Analysis
The decision to move Figgins fulltime could potentially pay huge dividends come this fall. During his time as OC, Bobo has used the fullback in the passing game a lot. Figgins will be perfect in the role. Zander Ogletree proved to be worth his scholarship last fall and will see plenty of playing time as well. Beyond Ogletree and Figgins, walkons make up the remainder of the fullback depth chart.

The Countdown 2010: 1 Day to Go

1: Herschel Walker, Tailback #34 (1980 - 1982)

Arguably the greatest player in college football history, if you don't know who Herschel Walker is then you should not be reading this blog. I could go on about his accomplishments, but that just wouldn't do him justice. Here's a look back at Herschel's career:

"Oh, you Herschel Walker!" - Larry Munson

The Countdown 2010: 3 Days to Go

3: Charley Trippi, Halfback #62 (1941 – 1943, 1945 – 1946)

Paul “Bear” Bryant once called him the greatest college football player who ever lived and in 2009, ESPN named him the twentieth greatest college football player of all-time. Charles “Charley” Trippi came to Georgia in 1941 after choosing to attend LaSalle Military Academy for his first year after high school. He had originally committed to attend Georgia following high school, but his successful season at La Salle resulted multiple scholarship offers, including powerhouse Notre Dame. But Charley kept his word to Harold Ketron and enrolled in Georgia in 1941. After leading the freshman team to an undefeated season, he was ready to join a Georgia backfield that already included All-American Frank Sinkwich in 1942.

Trippi played behind Frank Sinkwich during the first half of the ’42 season, but Coach Wally Butts decided to move Sinkwich to fullback. Trippi took over as the starting tailback and the Georgia offense began running wild on other teams in the SEC. Here is what Trippi thought about the Georgia offense in ’42:

''We really had an awesome offense (after the switch),'' Trippi said. ''Frank's quickness off the ball was so devastating that you could not imagine a more effective inside runner. And his running opened up the outside lanes for me.''

Sinkwich would go on to win the Heisman trophy and Georgia finished the season 11-1 and earn a trip to the Rose Bowl. Trippi had 1,239 yards of total offense (672 yards rushing and 567 yards passing) despite only starting for half the year. Georgia defeated UCLA in the Rose Bowl and Trippi was named the game MVP after gaining 130 yards on the ground. It would be the last game Trippi played at Georgia for over two years.

Trippi served in the Air Force during World War II and finally returned to Georgia for the second half of the 1945 season. Trippi took a few games to get acclimated to Coach Butts’ new t-formation offense but finally found his stroke in the regular season finale against Georgia Tech. He set an SEC record with 323 passing yards and rushed for 61 yards, totaling 384 yards of offense in the game(also an SEC record at the time). He threw a 47 yard touchdown pass and returned a punt for a touchdown to cap his junior season in the 20-6 victory over Tulsa in the Oil Bowl. During Trippi’s senior season in 1946, Georgia would go undefeated winning the SEC Championship (they were also recognized as national champions in one poll). Trippi was the team captain and often played the entire game on both offense and defense. In the Sugar Bowl victory over North Carolina, he played all 60 minutes and threw a 67 yard touchdown pass to Dan Edwards. While he did not win the Heisman, he was a consensus All-American and won the Maxwell Award, which is given annually to the best collegeiate football player in the United States. For the season, he rushed for 744 yards, had 662 yards passing, and accounted for 14 touchdowns.

Charley Trippi was the first overall pick by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1945 NFL (before he returned to Georgia for his senior season). He played a key role in the Cardinals’ 1947 NFL Championship, totaling 206 yards in the victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of the Georgia Circle of Honor, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and is one of only four Bulldogs to have his number (62) retired. He was also elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is the only member with over 1,000 yards passing, rushing, and receiving in his career.

The Countdown 2010: 4 Days to Go

4: Frank Sinkwich, Tailback/Wingback #21 (1940-1942)

The first Heisman Trophy winner in Georgia's history was a 5-foot-10-inch halfback from Youngstown, Ohio by way of Croatia that, strangely enough, Bulldog recruiter Bill Hartman got a lead on from a gas station attendant in the Buckeye state.

Hartman was in Ohio to recruit the state's best back but quickly learned he was planning to play for Ohio State. That's when a gas station attendant intervened, telling Hartman that the best back in Ohio wasn't that kid going to Ohio State, but a young man that lived right down the street from that gas station.

Hartman paid a visit to the Sinkwich household, and the rest as they say is history.

George Poschner, a friend of Sinkwich's from Ohio, followed him to Georgia and both played on the 1939 freshman team. The "point-a-minute Bullpups" went undefeated, and the Georgia faithful couldn't wait for those freshmen to join the varsity team.

In Sinkwich's junior year of 1941, he led the nation in rushing with 1,103 yards on 209 carries. But it was his senior in which Frank brought home almost every trophy in the land. In 1942, he set an NCAA single-season record for total offense with 2,187 yards. He was named as an All-American for the second time in his career and led the Bulldogs to a Rose Bowl victory over UCLA as Georgia captured the National Championship.

The 1942 Heisman winner was voted the top athlete in the country by the Associated Press over Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox, a year in which Williams hit for baseball's triple crown.

In his three-year varsity career, Sinkwich rushed for 2,271 yards, passed for 2,331 yards and accounted for 60 touchdowns - 30 rushing and 30 passing.

After graduating from UGA in 1943, Sinkwich joined the United States Marines, where he received a medical discharge due to his flat feet. He soon joined the Detroit Lions and was named NFL MVP in 1944.

The College Football Hall of Fame inducted him in 1954. Sinkwich's number 21 is only one of four numbers to be retired by UGA.

The Countdown 2010: 5 Days To Go, Garrison Hearst

5: Garrison Hearst, TB #5 (1990-1992)

Garrison Hearst is a well noted Georgia Bulldog, but the high achieving level he attained at Georgia is often underappreciated. The Lincolnton, GA native is the #2 career rusher for the bulldogs, was a dominating, powerhouse back in the early 1990’s, and his name is emblazoned all over Georgia’s record books.

Hearst came to Georgia in 1990, and would become a leading force on the field in the SEC. Hearst would only start just over half the games his freshman and sophomore seasons, but would garner respectable numbers during both years. He would be the leading rusher for Georgia all three years he played, and was also the leading scorer on the team for the ’91 and ’92 seasons.

clip of Hearst's 50+ yard TD run in 1992 versus Ole Miss*

His junior season in 1992 was of near epic proportions. Georgia would win 10 games (with 2 close losses), and finish the season ranked #8, topped off by a Citrus Bowl victory over the Doormat of the SEC (commonly referred to as Ohio State).

Highlights of Hearst from the 1993 Citrus Bowl versus Ohio State*

Hearst would gain 1,547 rushing yards that season, and a total of 1,910 all purpose yards (placing him second in school and SEC history), as well as being the only other rusher besides Herschel to gain 1,500 yards in a season. Hearst would also set the SEC record for touchdowns in a season (21), rushing touchdowns in season (19), average gain per rush (6.8), and most points scored in a season (126). His rushing TD and average gain records still remain SEC records today.

Hearst’s national notoriety skyrocketed as he won the Doak Walker Award (given to the nation’s top running back), was voted a consensus All-American, and finished 3rd in the Heisman balloting (finishing behind Gino Torretta and Marshall Faulk).

Hearst would finish his career with 3,232 rushing yards, 3,934 total yards, 16 - 100 yard rushing games, and 35 touchdowns over 3 seasons.

Hearst would go on to be the 3rd overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. While sustaining injuries and health problems that limited his playing, Hearst played for 12 seasons, appeared in 2 Pro Bowls, and twice won NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

* Videos courtesy of the Leather Helmet Blog's Youtube page

The Countdown 2010: 11 Days to Go

11: Knowshon Moreno, Halfback

#24 (2007 – 2008)

In 2006, running back Knowshon Moreno arrived in Athens after a record setting high school career in the state of New Jersey. And while his talents were clear to the Georgia coaching stuff, Coach Richt came to a tough decision when he decided to redshirt Moreno for the 2006 season. Georgia had three experienced running backs (Danny Ware, Kregg Lumpkin, and Thomas Brown) who were all juniors and since it looked as though carries would be tough to get. When Knowshon finally saw the field in 2007, he immediately showed flashes of the player the Georgia coaches has been talking about for a year while he sat out. It is a decision that Coach Richt still wishes he could reverse.

After all of the hype, Georgia fans were anxious to finally see Moreno take the field for the Dawgs. In the 35-14 season opening victory, showed his skills on this play:

The following week against South Carolina, Georgia fell 16-12 but Knowshon carried the ball 14 times for 104 yards, his first career 100 yard performance. After solid games against Western Carolina (including his first touchdown), Alabama, and Ole Miss, he racked up 157 yards rushing against Vanderbilt in his first start. With Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin out with injury, Knowshon was lone scholarship back for Georgia as they headed to Jacksonville to take on the defending national champion Gators. Knowshon would have the second of 5 consecutive 100 yards performances, rushing for 188 yards and three touchdowns as the Dawgs “danced” their way to victory. After big games against Troy, Auburn, and Kentucky, Moreno was hampered with an ankle injury against Georgia Tech. He recovered for the Sugar Bowl victory over Hawaii, rushing for 61 yards and two touchdowns on only 9 carries. For the season, 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns and added 253 yards on 20 catches receiving. Here is a look back at his highlights from the 2007 season:

After Georgia finished the 2007 season #2 in the national rankings, there were high expectations for Georgia in 2008. Knowshon and Matt Stafford led a high powered offense that was ranked #1 in the preseason. He scored 6 touchdowns on his first 26 carries of the 2008 season, including the most amazing play I have ever seen in person:



While Georgia failed to live up to the preseason expectations, Knowshon continued to play fantastic. Highlights included a 161 yard performance in the victory at LSU and 131 yard performance against Auburn that included his first career touchdown reception. He capped his redshirt sophomore season with a touchdown reception from Matt Stafford that helped seal Georgia’s victory over Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl. For the year, he rushed for 1,400 yards on 250 carries (5.6 yards per carry) and 16 touchdowns and also caught 33 passes for 392 yards and two scores. He was named to the All-SEC first team and an All-American by the AFCA Coaches.

A month after the Capital One Bowl, Knowshon Moreno (along with Matt Stafford) declared early for the NFL Draft, ending a brief but brilliant career. He holds the 5th and 6th highest single season rushing totals in Georgia history, fourth in total rushing yards (2,734) and fifth in rushing touchdowns. Many consider him the most talented offense player at Georgia since Herschel Walker. He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos and had a successful rookie season, rushing for over 900 yards and 7 touchdowns.

The Countdown 2010: 13 Days to Go

13: Bob McWhorter, Halfback (1910 – 1913)

When you say “Georgia Football”, the first thing that comes to most peoples’ minds is Herschel Walker and Vince Dooley. But prior Dooley’s arrival in Athens, another name was synonymous with Georgia football: Bob McWhorter. During the infancy of the sport at the university, Georgia was typically known more for its coaches, such as Glenn “Pop” Warner and George “Kid” Woodruff. But a 5’10’’ kid from nearby Lexington would give the Georgia program its first big star and one of the greatest players in school history.


The 1909 season had not been a successful one for the red and black squad from Georgia. They had won just one game and scored only two touchdowns in 7 games. But new Georgia coach Alex Cunningham brought a new direction to the Georgia team, as well as its future star player. Cunningham had been the baseball coach at Gordon Military College and Bob McWhorter was his centerfielder. In 1909, they played a game in Athens against Georgia, beating them 11-0. The next day, Cunningham was hired to coach the Georgia baseball and football teams, Bob McWhorter soon followed.


Bob McWhorter debuted for Georgia at halfback against Locus Grove College. Georgia would destroy the team from Locus Grove, 101-0, and it was the freshman McWhorter doing much of the scoring. McWhorter rushed for 5 touchdowns in the game. He also played the entire game on defense, a trend that would continue over the next 4 years. At the end of the season, McWhorter was instrumental in helping Georgia break a 5 year drought against Georgia Tech. He scored a 45 yard touchdown late in the game to give Georgia the lead and the eventual victory. He finished the season with 20 touchdowns and Georgia finished with a record of 6-2-1.


McWhorter continued to have success the following season as a sophomore. Playing the entire game on both offense and defense, McWhorter was the leader of a Georgia team that would only lose 1 game all season. He finished with 15 touchdowns in his sophomore year. Another successful season for Georgia in 1912 (6-1-1) was highlighted by an upset over a heavily-favored Auburn squad. McWhorter made two key plays to help ensure the Georgia victory. On their opening drive, Georgia lost nearly 40 yards on its first three plays from scrimmage. McWhorter lined up to punt, but instead took off down the field, going all the way for a touchdown. Later in the game with the score tied at 6, McWhorter threw a long touchdown pass to Hugh Conklin to give Georgia the win.


By 1913, McWhorter’s name was finally becoming known outside of the South. At the time, northern writers typically ignored players from the south when writing about college football, but that changed with McWhorter. The season began with 108-0 victory over Alabama Presbyterian and McWhorter had one of the most dominating performances in Georgia history. He had six runs of over 50 yards (meaning had over 300 yards rushing) and scored six touchdowns. The Bulldog captain continued to play great throughout the remainder of the season, including two touchdowns (one rushing and one on a punt return) in his final home game, a 19-6 victory over North Carolina. For the season, he scored 14 touchdowns and became the first Georgia player to be named an All-American. One New York writer had this to say about McWhorter: ''To Northern enthusiasts, McWhorter comes as a stranger, but not so in the South, where he is known as the most phenomenal backfield player the game has known for years.''

''To Northern enthusiasts, McWhorter comes as a stranger, but not so in the South, where he is known as the most phenomenal backfield player the game has known for years.''
While statistics from that era may be incomplete, Georgia records indicate that McWhorter scored a total 61 touchdowns during his four years for Georgia. That would rank him first all-time at Georgia (ahead of Herschel Walker’s 52). He was a four-time All-Southern Conference team member and was also a star for the Georgia baseball team. He turned down offers to play professionally, instead enrolling in graduate school at Virginia. During his time at Virginia, the Cavaliers traveled to Boston to take on national powerhouse Harvard. A running back named Bob White played halfback much of the game for Virginia and was the best player on the field that day. McWhorter returned to Georgia as a law professor at the University from 1923 until 1958. He served four terms as the mayor of Athens and the university named a dorm in his honor. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954, the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1964, and the UGA Circle of Honor in 1996.

The Countdown 2010: 26 Days to Go

Rodney Hampton, RB #7 (1987-1989)

Rodney Hampton came out of Houston, Texas to run in one of the greatest backfields of the '80s with Lars Tate, Tim Worley and Keith Henderson at the University of Georgia.

Courtesy of ESPN and GhostofErkRussell

Although having to split carries with the talented group, Hampton emerged as probably the best of the bunch. He still holds the UGA record for highest single-season average gain per carry with his 7.06 yardage mark his freshman year. That season was highlighted by his performance against Ole Miss, a 290-yard all-purpose day including 227 yards rushing, 28 yards receiving and 35 kickoff return yards. The all-purpose mark stands as UGA's highest total.

Hampton's 2,668 career rushing yards are third highest in a three-year stretch by any Georgia back -- all while splitting carries his first two seasons.

Inducted into the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame in 2006, he carried 62 times for 288 yards versus Florida in three victories.

The Texas product checked in as an All-American in 1988 and 1989, and scored three touchdowns in the 1989 Gator Bowl, Vince Dooley's final game as head coach.

Hampton declared early for the 1990 NFL Draft and was selected 24th overall by the New York Giants, where he played his entire career. His 6,897 rushing yards were the most by a Giant until Tiki Barber surpassed the number in 2004.

The Countdown 2010: 28 Days to Go

28: Bill Hartman, Fullback/ Linebacker/ Punter #25 (1935 – 1937)

During the second half of the 1940’s, the University of Georgia would only have one player named to the All-American after having 4 players named during the first part of the decade. That player, Bill Hartman, is often remembered as one of the most underrated players in Southern college football history. Hartman was born in Thomaston and played football as a youth in nearby by Madison. Hartman became a fixture for the Georgia football team beginning in 1935 for Harry Mehre.

Hartman was a versatile player for Georgia during his three years on varsity, playing fullback, linebackers, and punter for the Dawgs. During his senior season in 1937, he even filled in at quarterback against Tulane when injuries forced the Georgia starter out of the game. The Georgia offense struggled that day, but found a way to win 7-6 thanks in large part to a 44 yard punt by Hartman in the first quarter. The kick went out of bounds at the 2, forcing Tulane to start deep in its own territory and decided to punt on first down (a common practice at the time). Georgia’s Vassa Cate returned the punt for a touchdown, Georgia’s only score, and the Dawgs won. Here is a look at Hartman’s career at Georgia:


Later in the season, the Bulldogs were able to tie a heavily favored Georgia Tech team 6-6, after Hartman returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. Following the season, Hartman was named an All-American at the fullback position. He played two seasons in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and returned to Georgia as an assistance coach in 1939. He coached the secondary for Wally Butts until 1956. In 1974, Hartman returned to the Georgia coaching staff as the kicking coach for Vince Dooley. He was the first kicking coach in Georgia history and it had an immediate impact on the position. Georgia has enjoyed one of the best kicking traditions in the country, with names including Kevin Butler, Rex Robinson, John Kasay, Billy Bennett, and now Blair Walsh. Hartman was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1981, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984, and the UGA Circle of Honor in 1999.

Here’s another funny story about how Bill Hartman nearly fell on Uga:

The Countdown 2010: 52 Days to Go

52: Willie McClendon, Tailback #36 (1976 – 1978)

The McClendon name is one that has become synonymous with Georgia football over the years. Bryan McClendon was a great receiver for the Dawgs during the mid-2000’s, famous for catching the game winning touchdown from DJ Shockley in the 2005 Georgia Tech game and blocking a punt in Georgia’s SEC Championship victory over LSU. After a brief NFL career, Bryan returned to Athens where he now serves as running backs coach under Mark Richt. But the McClendon name first became famous in Athens nearly 30 years earlier, when Bryan’s father, Willie, carried the ball for Coach Vince Dooley.

In 1976, Willie McClendon joined a backfield that included star Kevin McLee and quarterback Ray Goff. As the Dawgs rolled to an SEC Championship, McClendon finished fourth on the team in rushing with 211 yards on just 40 carries and 5 touchdowns. This included a two score performance in the 45-0 trouncing of Vanderbilt. During his junior season, he became Georgia’s second leading rusher behind McLee, rushing for over 700 yards and 4 touchdowns. The ’77 season was highlighted by his performance against Florida, where he ran for 162 yards on only 10 carries. He scored three touchdowns in the game, including a 74 yarder.

As a senior in 1978, McClendon would enjoy the finest season any senior running back has ever had at the University of Georgia. Finally getting a chance to start, McClendon became a true workhorse for the Dawgs carrying the ball a then record 287 times (later broken by Herschel Walker). He would have the 8th best rushing yardage season in school history, totaling 1,312 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Highlights included an 81 yard touchdown run against South Carolina and two score, 144 yard performance in the Georgia upset of LSU in Baton Rouge. Following the season, he was named to the first team All-SEC squad.

Despite being the starter for only one season, Willie McClendon is 9th all-time in rushing yards at Georgia with 2,228 yards. He scored 22 career touchdowns and his rushing average of 119 yards per game in 1978 is fifth best in school history. He especially shined in the games against Florida, where he rushed for 276 yards and three scores in two wins (three total games). He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1979 NFL draft, where he played 4 seasons.

The Countdown 2010: 53 Days to Go

53: Glynn Harrison, Tailback #25 (1972 – 1975)

Georgia’s rivalry with Georgia Tech has always had its share of players who grew up rooting for one school, but ultimately ended up playing for the other. Such was the case for Georgia running back Glynn Harrison. The graduate of Columbia High School grew up rooting for the Yellow Jackets and almost transferred back there during his sophomore season. Harrison played sparingly during his freshman year and almost transferred, but ultimately stuck it out. He played on special teams and occasionally in the backfield. During Georgia’s upset victory over Tennessee in November, Harrison would be involved in one of the most unusual plays in Georgia history.

With the Dawgs down 31-28 late in the 4th, quarterback Andy Johnson attempted to hand the ball off to Harrison but the exchange was flubbed. The fumbled ball took a funny hop, back into Johnson’s hands who took the ball into the end zone. Georgia won, 35-31, and Glynn Harrison had entered the Georgia history book. For the season, he was Georgia’s leading punt returner, returning 23 punts for 256 yards (11.1 yards per return).

Harrison would earn the starting tailback job in 1974 and made the Bulldog nation proud he had not left the program. Harrison led the Dawgs with 959 yards rushing on 149 carries and 4 touchdowns. Good enough for a gaudy 6.44 yards per carry. He continued his role as the teams punt returned, returning 19 punts for 110 yards. Harrison also earned first team All-SEC honors for the first time in his career.

To prove that his yards per carry average in 1974 was not a fluke, he surpassed the mark during the 1975 season. The senior rushed for 894 yards on only 131 carries, good for 6.82 yards per carry (third best in Georgia history. He also scored 5 touchdowns and led the Dawgs in total offense for the second straight season. Harrison capped another All-SEC season with a great game against Georgia Tech that included a 78 yard touchdown run.

For his career, Harrison ranks second in Georgia history with an average of 6.37 yards per carry. He is 13th all-time in rushing at Georgia with 2,031 yards and he scored a total of 11 career touchdowns. He was drafted in the 9th round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers and ended up playing 1 season for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Countdown: 56 Days to Go

56: Robert Edwards, RB #47 (1994-1997)

Robert Edwards, drafted 18th overall by the New England Patriots in 1998, is best known for blowing out his knee in an NFL rookie flag football game on a Hawaii beach. He didn't play football again until 2002.

But Edwards career at Georgia was marked with great success at running back after beginning in the defensive backfield. He was moved to offense in Ray Goff's final season after starting at cornerback in 1994.

Edwards was the spark the Dawgs needed as he scored five touchdowns versus South Carolina in the season opener in Athens. Sure enough, the Dawgs were on their way to upsetting the 8th-ranked Volunteers in Knoxville the following week when Edwards went down with a foot injury. Tennessee won 30-27.

From 1995 to 1997, he averaged 17 carries per game, behind only Herschel Walker and Kevin McLee on Georgia's all-time list, and finished with 2,033 career rushing yards in only 23 games.

His 88.4-yard per game rushing average is 4th all time behind Walker, Knowshon Moreno and Garrison Hearst as he ran for more than 100 yards ten times in his career, finishing with 27 career rushing touchdowns.

In his senior season, Edwards rushed for 124 yards and four touchdowns as Georgia defeated 6th-ranked Florida, one of BNE's best teams that DIDN'T win the SEC championship.

The Countdown 2010: 60 Days to Go

60: Lars Tate, RB #32 (1984-1987)

Lars Tate shared the Georgia backfield with some quality running mates. Rodney Hampton, Tim Worley, Keith Henderson and of course, Pulpwood. But none of those backs ran for more career yards than Tate.

Lars Tate shared a backfield with #38 and #7.

The Indianapolis native left Athens with more than 3,000 yards rushing, which at the time was good for second place behind Herschel on Georgia's career rushing list. Tate still holds the #2 spot on UGA's career touchdown list with 36, thirteen behind Walker. The workhorse back of that mid-80s stable, Tate is also second all-time on Georgia's carries list with 615.

Named All-SEC as a junior, he posted 17 touchdowns in 1986, tying a then school record with four vs. Richmond - a feat he tied again vs. Oregon State the next season.

Lars garnered his second All-SEC team selection in 1987 as only one of two UGA seniors to ever rush for more than 1,000 yards, scampering for 1,016. Only senior tailback Willie McClendon of the 1978 Wonder Dawgs ran for more.

He was drafted 53rd overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1988. Twenty one years later, his son Donovan beat him by 50 spots, being drafted 3rd overall in the 2009 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres.

The Countdown 2010: 72 Days to Go

72: Kevin McLee, Tailback #39 (1975-1977)

Kevin McLee, a Damn Good Dawg, was one of the dynamic offensive football players in the SEC during the 1970's. McLee came to the University of Georgia in 1974 from Uniontown, PA and wasted no time becoming a force in UGA's run heavy offense, earning 2nd team All-SEC and Newcomer of the Year honors in 1975 while playing with the great Glynn Harrison. He ran for 1,058 yards and 6 touchdowns the next season, helping the Bulldogs to the 1976 SEC Title and the National Championship game. While he didn't have the same type of season in 1977, getting 717 yards, he surpassed Frank Sinkwich as Georgia's all time leading rusher with 2,581 yards.

McLee was a big time player, as evidenced by his 198 yards rushing against Florida in 1976 when the Cocktail Party boasted both teams with top 10 rankings, earning him a place in the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame in 2005. He followed that performance up with 203 yards against Auburn the next week in what was, at the time, the greatest back to back rushing performance in UGA history. Kevin McLee passed away from a stroke in 2007 while living in California and will always be remembered as a great Georgia Bulldog.

The Countdown 2010: 79 Days to Go

79: John Bond, Punter/Halfback #26 (1933 - 1935)

“There has been none who stood higher in character and sacrifice of self for his team and college." Atlanta Journal's Edwin Camp ("Ole Timer") on Bond.

John Bond, from Toccoa, GA, was both a kicker and a halfback for the Dawgs under Coach Mehre. He served as co-captain for the team in 1935 (the other captain was John McKnight, also from Toccoa) and led a class that went 21-9 from 1933-1935. One of his notable games as a kicker was a game against NC State where John kicked nine times for an average of 44 yards. During a game against Yale in 1934, The Red and Black declared that “especially effective was the punting of Bond, who was placing his kicks out of bounds with a great deal of skill and efficiency.” During his career he punted 113 times, with a 40.4 average during his Georgia career. In the halfback position, he totaled 1,097 yards on 257 carries.

In addition to being active on the in athletics (he also ran track), he was very involved in campus in organizations such as Sphinx and Gridiron. After he graduated, he went on to medical school and served as a surgeon in World War II.

Bond was selected as an All-American in 1935, and he was inducted into Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

*Today's entry on the countdown was written by Streit's wife, Melissa.

The Countdown 2010: 85 Days to Go

85: Horace King, Tailback #24 (1972-1974)

Horace King, a Damn Good Dawg, was one of the pioneers of UGA athletics, entering the University in 1971 as a member of the first class of African-American Football players. King was a standout at Tailback and Wingback, starting for three seasons while rushing for 1,287 yards and 19 touchdowns and earning All SEC honors in 1974. King later enjoyed a 9 year career in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. Highlights in Detroit included leading the 1979 Lions in rushing and setting, what was then, a Silverdome recored with a 74 yard run from scrimmage.

Horace was a local product from Athens High School that, according to his account in Tony Barnhart's book "What it Means to be a Bulldog", initially struggled with the decision to come to UGA until High School teammate Richard Appleby agreed to join him. Horace King was a favorite player of my father, who at the time, was a very recent graduate of the University. King worked hard for the Bulldogs both on the Gridiron and in the classroom, earning his degree in 1975, paving the way with Chuck Kennebrew, Clarence Pope, Larry West and the aforementioned Appleby for the future success of African-American athletes at UGA.

The Countdown 2010: 86 Days to Go

86: Tim Worley, Tailback #38 (1985 – 1988)

A Parade All-American from Lumberton, North Carolina, Tim Worley came to The University of Georgia in 1985. During his freshman season, Worley was a member of a five headed monster in the Georgia backfield that included Keith Henderson, Lars Tate, David McCluskey, and James Jackson. Worley would finish second on the team in rushing that season with 627 yards and led the team with 10 touchdowns. 104 of those yards on the ground came during a breakout performance against the Florida Gators in Jacksonville. Florida came into the game on an 18-game winning streak and carried with them a #1 ranking in the country. Georgia built a 17-3 lead but the Gators drove the ball inside the Georgia ten with a chance to cut the game to one score. A Florida fumbled ended the drive and Georgia took over inside its own ten. On second down from the 11, Worley ran a toss sweep to the right of the Georgia line. 89 yards later, it was a 21 point lead for the Dawgs and the game ended in a three touchdown upset of #1 Florida.



Worley missed most of the 1986 and all of the 1987 season due to injury. In 1988, he returned for his final season and rushed for 1,216 yards and scored a total of 20 touchdowns. Worley was a Heisman contender until the final weeks of the season and was named a first team All-American. #38 is tied for 15th all time in scoring at Georgia with 30 career touchdowns and is 12th all time in rushing yardage, with 2,038 yards. He was selected seventh overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1989 NFL Draft. He played for 5 seasons with Steelers and Bears and retired in 1994.